US20050289225A1 - Wireless input control of multiple computing devices - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for input control of multiple computing devices from a single set of input devices begins by providing, by a master input device of the single set of input devices, a connection request to the multiple computing devices via a wireless channel, wherein the connection request identifies one of the multiple computing devices. The method continues by interpreting, by each of other ones of the multiple computing devices, the connection request to determine that the connection request is not addressing the each of the other ones of the multiple computing devices. In response to the connection request, the method continues by providing, by the one of the multiple computing devices, a connection response to the master input device via the wireless channel. The method continues by providing, by the one of the multiple computing devices, a slave connection request to at least one slave input device of the single set of input devices via the wireless channel. The method continues by, in response to the slave connection request, providing, by the at least one slave input device, a second connection response to the one of the multiple computing devices via the wireless channel such that the master input device and the at least one slave input device provide input to the one of the multiple computing devices via the wireless channel.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. Technical Field of the Invention
• This invention relates generally to wireless communications and more particularly to wireless input control of multiple computing devices.
• 2. Description of Related Art
• FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional wired system that includes a plurality of human interface devices (HID), a switch, and a plurality of computers. In this illustration, the human interface devices include a keyboard and a mouse. The computers include a work station, PC computer, laptop computer and/or personal digital assistant (PDA) game console, et cetera.
• As shown, the human interface devices are coupled via wires to a switch, which is in turn coupled via wires to each of the computers. The switch enables the human interface devices to act as the inputs for a selected one of the computers. For example, if the switch couples the keyboard and mouse to the computer, the keyboard and mouse function as input devices to the computer. Alternatively, the switch could be set to couple the keyboard and mouse to the work station. In this instance, the keyboard and mouse would provide input to the work station.
• While such a system allows a single set of human interface devices to function as the input devices for one of a plurality of computers, it requires a switch and hard wire connections between the switch and each of the human interface devices as well as between the switch and the computer devices.
• FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of another prior art computing system that includes the human interface devices, a radio frequency (RF) dongle, the switch, and the plurality of computers. In this system, the hard wire connections between the human interface devices (e.g., the keyboard and mouse) and the switch are replaced by a wireless link. To support the wireless link, the system includes the RF dongle.
• While the system ofFIG. 2 offers the advantages of wireless connectivity of the human interface devices, it requires the addition of an RF dongle (with respect to the system ofFIG. 1) and still requires the switching function. With the additional equipment, the cost of the system increases and adds the inconvenience of having to hard wire the components.
• Therefore, a need exists for a system that substantially eliminates the need for a switch and reduces the hard wiring connections.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The wireless input control of multiple computing devices of the present invention substantially meets these needs and others. In one embodiment, a method for input control of multiple computing devices from a single set of input devices begins by providing, by a master input device of the single set of input devices, a connection request to the multiple computing devices via a wireless channel, wherein the connection request identifies one of the multiple computing devices. The method continues by interpreting, by each of other ones of the multiple computing devices, the connection request to determine that the connection request is not addressing the each of the other ones of the multiple computing devices. In response to the connection request, the method continues by providing, by the one of the multiple computing devices, a connection response to the master input device via the wireless channel. The method continues by providing, by the one of the multiple computing devices, a slave connection request to at least one slave input device of the single set of input devices via the wireless channel. The method continues by, in response to the slave connection request, providing, by the at least one slave input device, a second connection response to the one of the multiple computing devices via the wireless channel such that the master input device and the at least one slave input device provide input to the one of the multiple computing devices via the wireless channel.
• In another embodiment, a method for input control of multiple computing devices from a single set of input devices begins by receiving, by a master input device of the single set of input devices, a request to change input control from a first multiple computing device of the multiple computing devices to a second multiple computing device of the multiple computing devices. The method continues by providing, by the master input device, a request for disconnection of a wireless connection between the single set of input devices and the first multiple computing device via a wireless channel. The method continues by, in response to the request for the disconnection, providing, by the first multiple computing device, a slave disconnection request to each slave input device of the single set of input devices via the wireless channel. The method continues by, in response to the slave disconnection request, providing, by each slave input device, a slave acceptance of the disconnection to the first multiple computing device via the wireless channel. The method continues by, in response to receiving the slave acceptance of the disconnection, providing, by the first multiple computing device, an acceptance of the disconnection to the master input device via the wireless channel. The method continues by establishing a new wireless connection between the single set of input devices and the second multiple computing device.
• In yet another embodiment, a master input device of a single set of input devices used for input control of multiple computing devices includes a processing module and memory. The memory is operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to provide a connection request to the multiple computing devices via a wireless channel, wherein the connection request identifies one of the multiple computing devices. The memory also stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to receiving, from the one of the multiple computing devices, a connection response via the wireless channel, wherein the one of the multiple computing devices establishes a wireless connection with at least one slave input device of the single set of input devices via the wireless channel.
• In a further embodiment, a slave input device of a single set of input devices used for input control of multiple computing devices includes a processing module and memory. The memory is operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to receive, from one of multiple computing devices, a slave connection request via the wireless channel. The memory also stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to, in response to the slave connection request, provide a second connection response to the one of the multiple computing devices via the wireless channel such that a master input device and the slave input device provide input to the one of the multiple computing devices via the wireless channel.
• In a still further embodiment, a computing device capable of receiving input from a single set of input devices includes a processing module and memory. The memory is operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to receive, from a master input device of the single set of input devices, a connection request via a wireless channel, wherein the connection request identifies the computing devices. The memory also stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to, in response to the connection request, provide a connection response to the master input device via the wireless channel and provide a slave connection request to at least one slave input device of the single set of input devices via the wireless channel. The memory also stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to, in response to the slave connection request, receive, from the at least one slave input device, a second connection response via the wireless channel such that the master input device and the at least one slave input device provide input to the computing device via the wireless channel.
• In yet a further embodiment, a master input device of a single set of input devices used for input control of multiple computing devices includes a processing module and memory. The memory is operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to receive a request to change input control from a first multiple computing device of the multiple computing devices to a second multiple computing device of the multiple computing devices. The memory also stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to provide a request for disconnection of a wireless connection between the single set of input devices and the first multiple computing device via a wireless channel, wherein, in response to the request for the disconnection, the first multiple computing device provides a slave disconnection request to each slave input device of the single set of input devices via the wireless channel and wherein, in response to the slave disconnection request, each slave input device provides a slave acceptance of the disconnection to the first multiple computing device via the wireless channel. The memory also stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to, in response to receiving the slave acceptance of the disconnection, receive, from the first multiple computing device, an acceptance of the disconnection to the master input device via the wireless channel. The memory also stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to establish a new wireless connection between the single set of input devices and the second multiple computing device.
• In yet a still further embodiment, a computing device capable of receiving input from a single set of input devices includes a processing module and memory. The memory is operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to receive, from a master input device of the single set of input devices, a request for disconnection of a wireless connection between the single set of input devices and the computing device via a wireless channel. The memory also stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to, in response to the request for the disconnection, provide a slave disconnection request to each slave input device of the single set of input devices via the wireless channel. The memory also stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to, in response to the slave disconnection request, receive, from each slave input device, a slave acceptance of the disconnection to the first multiple computing device via the wireless channel. The memory also stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to, in response to receiving the slave acceptance of the disconnection, provide an acceptance of the disconnection to the master input device via the wireless channel, such that a new wireless connection between the single set of input devices and a second computing device is established.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a prior art computing system;
• FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of another prior art computing system;
• FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram and functional diagram of a computing system setting up a wireless communication bonding in accordance with the present invention;
• FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram block diagram and functional diagram of the computing system tearing down a wireless communication bonding in accordance with the present invention; and
• FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of the wireless input devices and corresponding computing devices in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a computing system in accordance with the present invention. The computing system includes a plurality of computing devices10-18 and a plurality of input devices20-24. The computing devices10-18 may be one or more of entertainment systems, personal computer, personal digital assistants, laptop computers, game console, et cetera. The input devices20-24 may be a keyboard, a computer mouse, a game controller, a keypad, a pointer and/or any other input device. In one embodiment, the input devices20-24 act as a set of input devices for a selected one of the computing devices10-18.
• As shown, each of the computing devices10-18 and each of the input devices20-24 include an antenna and corresponding RF transceiver section. The RF transceiver, in one embodiment, may be in accordance with one or more of the Bluetooth standards. Accordingly, the transmission of data via the RF transceivers is done in accordance with the corresponding Bluetooth standard.
• To facilitate the set-up of the set of input devices20-24 functioning as the input for one of the computing devices10-18, the user of the system typically assigns a component ID (i.e. identification code) in accordance with the particular wireless communication standard being implemented. For example, if the wireless communication standard is Bluetooth, the computing devices and input devices will have a corresponding Bluetooth ID. Further, the user will select one of the computing devices to be bonding to the set of input devices20-24. This may be done by the user via themaster input device20 or via a graphical user interface on a computing device that is currently bonded to the set of input devices. At start up of the system, it may be desirable to make the initial computer selection via the master input device.
• Regardless of how the computing device is identified, once themaster input device20 recognizes a request from the user to establish a bonding between the set of input devices and the identified computing device, themaster input device20 transmits aconnection request26 to each of the computing devices10-18. The connection request includes an ID of the targeted computing device and may be implemented as a packet as will be further described with reference toFIG. 5.
• Upon receiving theconnection request26, each of the computing devices10-18 interprets theconnection request26 to determine whether it is the target of the connection request. In this example, thecomputing device10, which may be a personal computer or a MAC based computer, is the target. Upon recognizing itself as the target, thecomputing device10 transmits aconnection response28 to themaster input device20 to establish a wireless bonding of thecomputing device10 and themaster input device20. The formatting of theconnection response28 may be in accordance with the particular wireless standard being supported by the piconet (e.g., Bluetooth).
• In addition to providing the connection response to themaster input device20, thecomputing device10 provides a slave connection request30 to each of the slave input devices20-24. The slave connection request may be in accordance with the particular standard being supported by the piconet (e.g., Bluetooth). Each of the slave input devices, which may be a mouse, game controller, et cetera, interprets the slave connection request30 and in response, provides aslave connection response32 and34 back to thecomputing device10. Note that the slave connection response may be in accordance with the particular standard being supported by the piconet (e.g., Bluetooth). Once thecomputing device10 receives the slave connection responses, it is wirelessly bonded to the set of input devices20-24 while the remaining computing devices12-18 are not bonded to the input devices20-24. As such, any inputs provided by one or more of the input devices will be processed by computingdevice10 and ignored by the other computer devices12-18.
• Once the input devices20-24 are bonded with a particular computing device (in this example computing device10) the bonding remains until the user tears it down. Once the bonding is torn down, a new bonding may be established. In addition, when an input device is out of range with respect to the computing device, its bonding to the computing device may be automatically torn down by the computing device.
• FIG. 4 is a schematic and functional diagram of the computing system tearing down the bonding of the input devices20-24 to a particular one of the computing devices. The tearing down of the bonding may be done in response to a user request to tear down the bonding or to change the bonding to another computing device. To begin the process, the master input device receives a changeinput control signal40, which may be a tear down request or a change bonding request. The changeinput control signal40 may be initiated via a particular keystroke on a keyboard or via a graphical user interface of the then currently bonded computing device (e.g., computing device10). Regardless of the mechanism for triggering the changeinput control signal40, once themaster device20 detects thechange signal40, it transmits adisconnection request42 to the particular computing device, in thisexample computing device10. Thedisconnection request42 will be in accordance with the particular wireless protocol being supported by the piconet, for example Bluetooth.
• In response to thedisconnection request42, thecomputing device10 provides adisconnection acceptance message44 back to themaster input device20. In addition, thecomputing device10 provides aslave disconnection request46, in accordance with the corresponding wireless standard, to theslave input devices22 and24.
• In response to theslave disconnection request46, each of the slaves provides a slavedisconnection acceptance message50 and52 to thecomputing device10. At this point, the bonding of the input devices tocomputing device10 has been torn down.
• If the changeinput control signal40 indicates a change in the bonding, themaster input device20 then provides anew connection request54 to the computing device to which the user wants to bond the input devices. The establishment of the bonding of the input devices20-24 to a particular computing device10-18 was previously described with reference toFIG. 3. Note that themaster input device20 will not provide thenew connection request54 until the wireless bonding of all of the input devices to the particular computing device has been torn down. As one of average skill in the art will appreciate, any one of the input devices may act as the master input device.
• Note that if the changeinput control signal40 was provided via a graphical user interface, the process may be done by selecting via one of the input devices (e.g., mouse, keyboard, et cetera), a graphical icon on the display of the particular computing device (e.g., computing device10). In response to the graphical icon selection, thecorresponding computing device10 provides a graphical listing of each of the computing devices in the system. The user, via one of the input devices, selects another one of the computing devices to bond the input devices to. Thecomputing device10, upon detecting the selection of the particular computing device provides the identity back to themaster input device20 such that it may generate thenew connection request54 and establish the new bonding as previously described with reference toFIG. 3.
• FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of an input device20-24 and a computing device10-18. The input device20-24 includes aninput selection module64, aprocessing module60, an RF receiver section68, an RF transmitter section66, a transmit/receiveswitch module70, and anantenna72. The input device20-24 further includesmemory62 that stores a plurality of software algorithms including a slave application, ahost ID76, anRF transceiver application78 and a master set-upapplication80. The computing device10-18 includes a transmit/receiveswitch module96, anRF transmitter section98, anRF receiver section100, aprocessing module90, an input/output selection module102 andmemory92.Memory92 stores a plurality of software algorithms including anRF transceiver application104, ahost application106, a host ID field or fields108, and may further include a graphical user interface (GUI)application110. In addition, the memory may include one or more algorithms to support the particular functionality of the computing device including, but not limited to, word processing, web browser, gaming et cetera.
• Theprocessing modules60 and90 may each be a single processing device or a plurality of processing devices. Such a processing device may be a microprocessor, micro-controller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device that manipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on operational instructions. Thememory62 and92 may each be a single memory device or a plurality of memory devices. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or any device that stores digital information. Note that when theprocessing module60 and/or90 implements one or more of its functions via a state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memory storing the corresponding operational instructions may be embedded within, or external to, the circuitry comprising the state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry. Thememory62 and92 stores, and theprocessing modules60 and90 execute, operational instructions corresponding to at least some of the steps and/or functions illustrated inFIGS. 3-5.
• In one embodiment, theRF transceiver applications78 and104 are in accordance with the Bluetooth standard. In this instance, data that is transceived between the input device20-24 and computing device10-18 is done in packets that are formatted in accordance with the Bluetooth standard. To facilitate the bonding of the set of input devices to a particular computing device, anew packet structure82 is formatted to include a traditional header section and a data field84 that includes the ID of the targeted computing device and null data (which is represented by x).
• The computing devices10-18 upon receivingpacket82 interpret the data field84 in accordance with thehost application106 and/orhost ID108 to determine whether it is the target ofpacket82. If so, it evokes thehost application106 to facilitate the set-up of bonding of the wireless inputs to the computing device as described inFIG. 3 or to tear down the bonding of the wireless inputs to the computing device as shown inFIG. 4.
• To generate thespecial packet82 to identify the set-up or tear down of the bonding, the master input device utilizes the master set-upapplication80. In the slave devices, the master set-up application is inactive. Once the set-up or tear down of the bonding of the input devices to the computing device is initiated, the input devices20-24 and computing devices10-18 utilize theRF transceiver applications70 and104 to facilitate, in accordance with the particular standard, the set-up or tear down of the wireless connections.
• As one of average skill in the art will appreciate, the term “substantially” or “approximately”, as may be used herein, provides an industry-accepted tolerance to its corresponding term and/or relativity between items. Such an industry-accepted tolerance ranges from less than one percent to twenty percent and corresponds to, but is not limited to, component values, integrated circuit process variations, temperature variations, rise and fall times, and/or thermal noise. Such relativity between items ranges from a difference of a few percent to magnitude differences. As one of average skill in the art will further appreciate, the term “operably coupled”, as may be used herein, includes direct coupling and indirect coupling via another component, element, circuit, or module where, for indirect coupling, the intervening component, element, circuit, or module does not modify the information of a signal but may adjust its current level, voltage level, and/or power level. As one of average skill in the art will also appreciate, inferred coupling (i.e., where one element is coupled to another element by inference) includes direct and indirect coupling between two elements in the same manner as “operably coupled”. As one of average skill in the art will further appreciate, the term “compares favorably”, as may be used herein, indicates that a comparison between two or more elements, items, signals, etc., provides a desired relationship. For example, when the desired relationship is thatsignal1 has a greater magnitude thansignal2, a favorable comparison may be achieved when the magnitude ofsignal1 is greater than that ofsignal2 or when the magnitude ofsignal2 is less than that ofsignal1.
• The preceding discussion has presented a method an apparatus for wireless bonding of a set of input devices to one of a plurality of computing devices. As one of average skill in the art will appreciate, other embodiments may be derived from the teaching of the present invention without deviating from the scope of the claims.

Claims (33)

1. A method for input control of multiple computing devices from a single set of input devices, the method comprises:

providing, by a master input device of the single set of input devices, a connection request to the multiple computing devices via a wireless channel, wherein the connection request identifies one of the multiple computing devices;

interpreting, by each of other ones of the multiple computing devices, the connection request to determine that the connection request is not addressing the each of the other ones of the multiple computing devices;

in response to the connection request:

providing, by the one of the multiple computing devices, a connection response to the master input device via the wireless channel; and

providing, by the one of the multiple computing devices, a slave connection request to at least one slave input device of the single set of input devices via the wireless channel; and

in response to the slave connection request, providing, by the at least one slave input device, a second connection response to the one of the multiple computing devices via the wireless channel such that the master input device and the at least one slave input device provide input to the one of the multiple computing devices via the wireless channel.

2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the single set of input devices comprises at least two of:

a computer mouse, a keyboard, a pointer, a game controller, and a wireless keypad.

3. The method ofclaim 1 comprises:

providing, by a master input device of the single set of input devices, the connection request to the multiple computing devices via the wireless channel in accordance with a Bluetooth standard;

providing, by the one of the multiple computing devices, the connection response to the master input device via the wireless channel in accordance with the Bluetooth standard;

providing, by the one of the multiple computing devices, the slave connection request to the at least one slave input device via the wireless channel in accordance with the Bluetooth standard; and

providing, by the at least one slave input device, the second connection response to the one of the multiple computing devices via the wireless channel in accordance with the Bluetooth standard.

4. The method ofclaim 1 comprises:

receiving, by the master input device, a request to change input control from the one of the multiple computing devices to a second one of the multiple computing devices;

providing, by the master input device, a request for disconnection of a wireless connection between the single set of input devices and the one of multiple computing devices via the wireless channel;

in response to the request for the disconnection:

providing, by the one of the multiple computing devices, an acceptance of the disconnection to the master input device via the wireless channel;

providing, by the one of the multiple computing devices, a slave disconnection request to the each slave input device of the single set of input devices via the wireless channel;

providing, by the each of the slave input devices, a slave acceptance of the disconnection to the first multiple computing device via the wireless channel; and

establishing a new wireless connection between the single set of input devices and the second one of the multiple computing devices.

5. A method for input control of multiple computing devices from a single set of input devices, the method comprises:

receiving, by a master input device of the single set of input devices, a request to change input control from a first multiple computing device of the multiple computing devices to a second multiple computing device of the multiple computing devices;

providing, by the master input device, a request for disconnection of a wireless connection between the single set of input devices and the first multiple computing device via a wireless channel;

in response to the request for the disconnection, providing, by the first multiple computing device, a slave disconnection request to each slave input device of the single set of input devices via the wireless channel;

in response to the slave disconnection request, providing, by each slave input device, a slave acceptance of the disconnection to the first multiple computing device via the wireless channel;

in response to receiving the slave acceptance of the disconnection, providing, by the first multiple computing device, an acceptance of the disconnection to the master input device via the wireless channel; and

establishing a new wireless connection between the single set of input devices and the second multiple computing device.

6. The method ofclaim 5, wherein the establishing the new wireless connection comprises:

providing, by the master input device, a new connection request to the multiple computing devices via a wireless channel, wherein the connection request identifies the second multiple computing device;

interpreting, by each of remaining ones of the multiple computing devices, the new connection request to determine that the connection request is not addressing the each of the remaining ones of the multiple computing devices;

in new response to the connection request:

providing, by the second multiple computing device, a new connection response to the master input device via the wireless channel; and

providing, by the second multiple computing device, a new slave connection request to at least one slave input device of the single set of input devices via the wireless channel; and

in response to the new slave connection request, providing, by the at least one slave input device, a new second connection response to the second multiple computing device via the wireless channel such that the master input device and the at least one slave input device provide input to the second multiple computing device via the wireless channel.

7. The method ofclaim 6, wherein the single set of input devices comprises at least two of:

a computer mouse, a keyboard, a pointer, a game controller, and a wireless keypad.

8. The method ofclaim 6 comprises:

providing, by a master input device, the new connection request to the multiple computing devices via the wireless channel in accordance with a Bluetooth standard; providing, by the second multiple computing device, the new connection response to the master input device via the wireless channel in accordance with the Bluetooth standard;

providing, by the second multiple computing device, the new slave connection request to the at least one slave input device via the wireless channel in accordance with the Bluetooth standard; and

providing, by the at least one slave input device, the new second connection response to the one of the multiple computing devices via the wireless channel in accordance with the Bluetooth standard.

9. The method ofclaim 5 comprises:

providing, by the master input device, the request for disconnection of a wireless connection between the single set of input devices and the first multiple computing device via a wireless channel in accordance with a Bluetooth standard;

providing, by the first multiple computing device, the acceptance of the disconnection to the master input device via the wireless channel in accordance with the Bluetooth standard;

providing, by the first multiple computing device, the slave disconnection request to each slave input device of the single set of input devices via the wireless channel in accordance with the Bluetooth standard;

providing, by each slave input device, the slave acceptance of the disconnection to the first multiple computing device via the wireless channel in accordance with the Bluetooth standard.

10. The method ofclaim 5, wherein the receiving, by the master input device, the request to change input control comprises:

detecting a unique input sequence on the master input device.

11. The method ofclaim 5, wherein the receiving, by the master input device, the request to change input control comprises:

selecting, by one of the single set of input devices, a graphical icon on a display of the first multiple computing device via a graphical user interface (GUI);

in response to the selection of the graphical icon, providing, by the first multiple computing device a graphical listing of each of the multiple computing devices;

selecting, by the one of the single set of input devices, the second multiple computing device from the graphical listing; and

providing, by the first multiple computing device, identity of the second multiple computing device and an indication of the request to change input control.

12. A master input device of a single set of input devices used for input control of multiple computing devices, the master input device comprises:

processing module; and

memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

provide a connection request to the multiple computing devices via a wireless channel, wherein the connection request identifies one of the multiple computing devices; and

receiving, from the one of the multiple computing devices, a connection response via the wireless channel, wherein the one of the multiple computing devices establishes a wireless connection with at least one slave input device of the single set of input devices via the wireless channel.

13. The master input device ofclaim 12, wherein the single set of input devices comprises at least two of:

a computer mouse, a keyboard, a pointer, a game controller, and a wireless keypad.

14. The master input device ofclaim 12, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

provide the connection request to the multiple computing devices via the wireless channel in accordance with a Bluetooth standard; and

receive, from the one of the multiple computing devices, the connection response to the master input device via the wireless channel in accordance with the Bluetooth standard.

15. The master input device ofclaim 12, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

receive a request to change input control from the one of the multiple computing devices to a second one of the multiple computing devices;

provide a request for disconnection of a wireless connection between the single set of input devices and the one of multiple computing devices via the wireless channel;

in response to the request for the disconnection, receive, from the one of the multiple computing devices, an acceptance of the disconnection to the master input device via the wireless channel; and

establish a new wireless connection between the single set of input devices and the second one of the multiple computing devices.

16. A slave input device of a single set of input devices used for input control of multiple computing devices, the slave input device comprises:

processing module; and

memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

receive, from one of multiple computing devices, a slave connection request via the wireless channel; and

in response to the slave connection request, provide a second connection response to the one of the multiple computing devices via the wireless channel such that a master input device and the slave input device provide input to the one of the multiple computing devices via the wireless channel.

17. The slave input device ofclaim 16, wherein the single set of input devices comprises at least two of:

a computer mouse, a keyboard, a pointer, a game controller, and a wireless keypad.

18. The slave input device ofclaim 16, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

receive the slave connection request to the at least one slave input device via the wireless channel in accordance with the Bluetooth standard; and

provide the second connection response to the one of the multiple computing devices via the wireless channel in accordance with the Bluetooth standard.

19. A computing device capable of receiving input from a single set of input devices, the computing device comprises:

processing module; and

memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

receive, from a master input device of the single set of input devices, a connection request via a wireless channel, wherein the connection request identifies the computing devices;

in response to the connection request:

provide a connection response to the master input device via the wireless channel; and

provide a slave connection request to at least one slave input device of the single set of input devices via the wireless channel; and

in response to the slave connection request, receive, from the at least one slave input device, a second connection response via the wireless channel such that the master input device and the at least one slave input device provide input to the computing device via the wireless channel.

20. The computing device ofclaim 19, wherein the single set of input devices comprises at least two of:

a computer mouse, a keyboard, a pointer, a game controller, and a wireless keypad.

21. The computing device ofclaim 19, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

receive, from the master input device, the connection request via the wireless channel in accordance with a Bluetooth standard;

provide the connection response to the master input device via the wireless channel in accordance with the Bluetooth standard;

provide the slave connection request to the at least one slave input device via the wireless channel in accordance with the Bluetooth standard; and

receive, from the at least one slave input device, the second connection response via the wireless channel in accordance with the Bluetooth standard.

22. The computing device ofclaim 19, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

receive, from the master input device, a request for disconnection of a wireless connection between the single set of input devices and the computing device via the wireless channel;

in response to the request for the disconnection:

provide an acceptance of the disconnection to the master input device via the wireless channel;

provide a slave disconnection request to the each slave input device of the single set of input devices via the wireless channel; and

receive, from the each of the slave input devices, a slave acceptance of the disconnection to the first multiple computing device via the wireless channel.

23. A master input device of a single set of input devices used for input control of multiple computing devices, the master input device comprises:

processing module; and

memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

receive a request to change input control from a first multiple computing device of the multiple computing devices to a second multiple computing device of the multiple computing devices;

provide a request for disconnection of a wireless connection between the single set of input devices and the first multiple computing device via a wireless channel, wherein, in response to the request for the disconnection, the first multiple computing device provides a slave disconnection request to each slave input device of the single set of input devices via the wireless channel and wherein, in response to the slave disconnection request, each slave input device provides a slave acceptance of the disconnection to the first multiple computing device via the wireless channel;

in response to receiving the slave acceptance of the disconnection, receive, from the first multiple computing device, an acceptance of the disconnection to the master input device via the wireless channel; and

establish a new wireless connection between the single set of input devices and the second multiple computing device.

24. The master input device ofclaim 23, wherein memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to establish the new wireless connection by:

providing a new connection request to the multiple computing devices via a wireless channel, wherein the connection request identifies the second multiple computing device;

in new response to the connection request:

receiving, from the second multiple computing device, a new connection response to the master input device via the wireless channel, wherein, the second multiple computing device provides a new slave connection request to at least one slave input device of the single set of input devices via the wireless channel, and wherein, in response to the new slave connection request, the at least one slave input device provides a new second connection response to the second multiple computing device via the wireless channel such that the master input device and the at least one slave input device provide input to the second multiple computing device via the wireless channel.

25. The master input device ofclaim 24, wherein the single set of input devices comprises at least two of:

a computer mouse, a keyboard, a pointer, a game controller, and a wireless keypad.

26. The master input device ofclaim 24, wherein memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

provide the new connection request to the multiple computing devices via the wireless channel in accordance with a Bluetooth standard; and

receive, from the second multiple computing device, the new connection response to the master input device via the wireless channel in accordance with the Bluetooth standard.

27. The master input device ofclaim 23, wherein memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

provide the request for disconnection of a wireless connection between the single set of input devices and the first multiple computing device via a wireless channel in accordance with a Bluetooth standard;

receive, from the first multiple computing device, the acceptance of the disconnection to the master input device via the wireless channel in accordance with the Bluetooth standard.

28. The master input device ofclaim 23, wherein memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to receive the request to change input control by:

detecting a unique input sequence on the master input device.

29. The master input device ofclaim 23, wherein memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to receive the request to change input control by:

selecting, by one of the single set of input devices, a graphical icon on a display of the first multiple computing device via a graphical user interface (GUI);

in response to the selection of the graphical icon, providing, by the first multiple computing device a graphical listing of each of the multiple computing devices;

selecting, by the one of the single set of input devices, the second multiple computing device from the graphical listing; and

providing, by the first multiple computing device, identity of the second multiple computing device and an indication of the request to change input control.

30. A computing device capable of receiving input from a single set of input devices, the computing device comprises:

processing module; and

memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

receive, from a master input device of the single set of input devices, a request for disconnection of a wireless connection between the single set of input devices and the computing device via a wireless channel;

in response to the request for the disconnection, provide a slave disconnection request to each slave input device of the single set of input devices via the wireless channel;

in response to the slave disconnection request, receive, from each slave input device, a slave acceptance of the disconnection to the first multiple computing device via the wireless channel;

in response to receiving the slave acceptance of the disconnection, provide an acceptance of the disconnection to the master input device via the wireless channel, such that a new wireless connection between the single set of input devices and a second computing device is established.

31. The computing device ofclaim 30, wherein the single set of input devices comprises at least two of:

a computer mouse, a keyboard, a pointer, a game controller, and a wireless keypad.

32. The computing device ofclaim 30, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

receive, from the master input device, the request for disconnection of a wireless connection between the single set of input devices and the first multiple computing device via a wireless channel in accordance with a Bluetooth standard;

provide the acceptance of the disconnection to the master input device via the wireless channel in accordance with the Bluetooth standard; and

provide the slave disconnection request to each slave input device of the single set of input devices via the wireless channel in accordance with the Bluetooth standard.

33. The computing device ofclaim 30, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to facilitate the request to change input control by:

receiving, from one of the single set of input devices, a selection of a graphical icon on a display of the first multiple computing device via a graphical user interface (GUI);

in response to the selection of the graphical icon, providing a graphical listing of each of the multiple computing devices;

receiving, from the one of the single set of input devices, a selection of a second multiple computing device from the graphical listing; and

providing identity of the second multiple computing device and an indication of the request to change input control.

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